Sarah J. Jones

Differential involvement of TGF-β1 in mediating the motogenic effects of TSP-1 on endothelial cells, fibroblasts and oral tumour cells

The role of TSP-1 in tumour growth and angiogenesis remains controversial, with both stimulatory and inhibitory roles proposed. The effects of TSP-1 on the migration of endothelial cells, fibroblast and oral tumour cell lines were examined using the transmembrane assay. TSP-1 induced a bi-phasic effect on human and bovine endothelial cells: stimulation at low concentrations (0.1-10 microg/ml) and inhibition at high concentrations (25-100 microg/ml). FGF-2-stimulated endothelial cell migration was either further stimulated or inhibited by TSP-1, following the same bi-phasic dose response as in the absence of FGF-2. In contrast, TSP-1 stimulated the migration of human fibroblast and oral tumour cells in a dose dependent manner; a plateau was reached with 5-25 microg/ml and no inhibitory effect was observed. These effects were partly neutralised by antibodies to alphavbeta3 integrin. TGF-beta1 (0.1-200 ng/ml tested) mimicked the effects of TSP-1 on cell migration. Function-neutralising antibodies to TGF-beta1 completely abolished both the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of TSP-1 on endothelial migration, but had no effect on TSP-1-stimulated migration of fibroblast and oral tumour cells. The effects of TGF-beta1 were not affected by antibodies to TSP-1. These results indicate that the effects of TSP-1 on endothelial cell migration are mediated by TGF-beta1, whereas the effects on fibroblast and tumour cell migration are TGF-beta1-independent.

Is there a pAkt between VEGF and oral cancer cell migration

The PI3K-Akt signalling pathway is a well-established driver of cancer progression. One key process promoted by Akt phosphorylation is tumour cell motility; however the mechanism of VEGF-induced Akt phosphorylation leading to motility remains poorly understood. Previously, we have shown that Akt phosphorylation induced by different factors causes both stimulation and inhibition of motility in different cell types. However, differential phosphorylation of Akt at T308 and S473 residues by VEGF and its role in head and neck cancer cell motility and progression is unknown. The cell lines investigated in this study exhibited a change in phosphorylation of Akt in response to VEGF. However, in terms of motility, VEGF stimulated oral cancer and its associated cell lines, but not normal keratinocytes or oral mucosal fibroblasts. The addition of a PI3 kinase and mTOR inhibitor, inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and also effectively blocked VEGF-induced oral cancer cell motility, whereas only the PI3 kinase inhibitor blocked oral cancer associated fibroblast cell motility. This study therefore discloses that two different mechanisms of Akt phosphorylation control the motility potential of different cell lines. Akt phosphorylated at both residues controls oral cancer cell motility. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis of VEGF positive human head and neck tumour tissues showed a significant increase in Akt phosphorylation at the T308 residue, suggesting that pAkt T308 may be associated with tumour progression in vivo.

The control and importance of hyaluronan synthase expression in palatogenesis

Development of the lip and palate involves a complex series of events that requires the close co-ordination of cell migration, growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Palatal shelf elevation is considered to be driven by regional accumulation and hydration of glycosoaminoglycans, principally hyaluronan (HA), which provides an intrinsic shelf force, directed by components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). During embryogenesis, the extracellular and pericellular matrix surrounding migrating and proliferating cells is rich in HA. This would suggest that HA may be important in both shelf growth and fusion. TGFβ3 plays an important role in palatogenesis and the corresponding homozygous null (TGFβ3−/−) mouse, exhibits a defect in the fusion of the palatal shelves resulting in clefting of the secondary palate. TGFβ3 is expressed at the future medial edge epithelium (MEE) and at the actual edge epithelium during E14.5, suggesting a role for TGFβ3 in fusion. This is substantiated by experiments showing that addition of exogenous TGFβ3 can “rescue” the cleft palate phenotype in the null mouse. In addition, TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 can rescue the null mouse palate (in vitro) to near normal fusion. In vivo a TGFβ1 knock-in mouse, where the coding region of the TGFβ3 gene was replaced with the full-length TGFβ1 cDNA, displayed complete fusion at the mid portion of the secondary palate, whereas the anterior and posterior regions failed to fuse appropriately. We present experimental data indicating that the three HA synthase (Has) enzymes are differentially expressed during palatogenesis. Using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and embryo sections from the TGFβ3 null mouse at days E13.5 and E14.5, it was established that there was a decrease in expression of Has2 in the mesenchyme and an increase in expression of Has3 in comparison to the wild-type mouse. In vitro data indicate that HA synthesis is affected by addition of exogenous TGFβ3. Preliminary data suggests that this increase in HA synthesis, in response to TGFβ3, is under the control of the PI3kinase/Akt pathway.

Multi-factorial modulation of IGD motogenic potential in MSF (Migration Stimulating Factor)

Migration Stimulating Factor (MSF) is a genetically truncated isoform of fibronectin (Fn). MSF is a potent stimulator of fibroblast migration, whereas full length Fn is devoid of motogenic activity. MSF and Fn contain four IGD motifs, located in the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th type I modules; these modules are referred to as (3)FnI, (5)FnI, (7)FnI and (9)FnI, respectively. We have previously reported that mutation of IGD motifs in modules (7)FnI and (9)FnI of MSF is sufficient to completely abolish the motogenic response of target adult skin fibroblasts. We now report that the IGD sequences in (3)FnI and (5)FnI are also capable of exhibiting motogenic activity when present within fragments of MSF. When present within (1-5)FnI, these sequences require the presence of serum or vitronectin for their motogenic activity to be manifest, whereas the IGD sequences in (7)FnI and (9)FnI are bioactive in the absence of serum factors. All MSF and IGD-containing peptides stimulated the phosphorylation of the integrin binding protein focal adhesion kinase (FAK) but did not necessarily affect migration. These results suggest that steric hindrance determines the motogenic activity of MSF and Fn, and that both molecules contain cryptic bioactive fragments.

Migration Stimulating Factor (MSF) promotes fibroblast migration by inhibiting AKT

The protein kinase AKT is activated strongly by many motogenic growth factors, yet has recently been shown capable of inhibiting migration in several cell types. Here we report that treatment with Migration Stimulating Factor (MSF), a truncated form of fibronectin that promotes the migration of many cell types, inhibits AKT activity in human fibroblasts and endothelial cells. In fibroblasts, treatment with either MSF or the AKT inhibitor, Akti-1/2, stimulated migration into 3D collagen gels to a similar extent and the effects of Akti-1/2 on migration could be blocked by the expression of an inhibitor-resistant mutant, AKT1 W80A. These data indicate that MSF promotes fibroblast migration, at least in part, by inhibiting the activity of AKT.

Activation of the protease from human adenovirus type 2 is accompanied by a conformational change that is dependent on cysteine-104

Adenovirus codes for a protease the activity of which can be regulated in vitro by an 11 residue peptide (GVQSLKRRRCF) derived from another viral protein, pVI. Three cysteine residues, one in the activating peptide and two in the protease (C104 and C122), play a central role in both activation and catalysis. Expression of protease mutants in insect cells has shown that C104 is not essential for proteolytic activity. GVQSLKRRRCF also caused a concentration-dependent increase in tryptophan fluorescence of protease expressed in Escherichia coli that paralleled the increase in proteolytic activity, indicating that activation was accompanied by a conformational change. Tryptophan fluorescence of C104S was not increased by the addition of GVQSLKRRRCF, nor was the fluorescence of wild-type protease increased by the addition of the peptide analogues where cysteine is replaced by aspartic acid or serine, suggesting that C104 is involved in activation and C122 in catalysis.

Bistable switch in migration stimulating factor expression: regulation by the concerted signalling of transforming growth factor-β1 and the extracellular matrix.

Migration stimulating factor (MSF) is an oncofetal motogenic/angiogenic cytokine constitutively expressed by epithelial and stromal cells in fetal and neoplastic tissues. Fibroblasts derived from healthy adult skin do not express MSF but can be induced to do so by treatment with transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1). As the bioactivities of both MSF and TGF‐β1 are modulated by the extracellular matrix, we investigated whether the induction of MSF expression by TGF‐β1 is also matrix dependent. We now report that adult fibroblasts are induced to express MSF by a transient treatment with TGF‐β1 (as short as 2 hr) but only when the cells are adherent to a “wound” matrix, such as denatured type I collagen, fibrin or plastic tissue culture dishes. Unexpectedly, this induction of MSF expression persists unabated for the entire subsequent lifespan of the treated cells in the absence of further TGF‐β1 and irrespective of the substratum. Such “activated” MSF expression may, however, be persistently switched off again by a second transient exposure to TGF‐β1 but this time only when the cells are adherent to a “healthy” matrix of native type I collagen. Significantly, the constitutive expression of MSF by fetal and cancer patient fibroblasts could also be persistently switched off by this means. We conclude that TGF‐β1 may both switch on and switch off MSF expression in a manner critically determined by the nature of the matrix substratum and suggest that this may be a possible mechanism underlying the observed dual functionality of TGF‐β1 as both a tumour suppressor and tumour promoter.

Activation of Akt at T308 and S473 in alcohol, tobacco and HPV-induced HNSCC: is there evidence to support a prognostic or diagnostic role?

BackgroundTobacco, alcohol and HPV infection are associated with increased risk of HNSCC. However, little is known about the underlying signaling events influencing risk. We aimed to investigate the relationship between these risk factors and Akt phosphorylation, to determine prognostic value.MethodVEGF-positive HNSCC biopsies, with known HPV status, were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for Akt, phosphorylated at residues S473 and T308. Comparisons between the tissues were carried out using a Mann–Whitney U test. Associations between the variables and continuous immunohistochemical parameters were evaluated with general linear models. Patient characteristics and pAkt IHC score were analyzed for possible association with overall survival by Cox proportional hazard models.ResultsImmunohistochemistry revealed that cancer patients had significantly higher levels of pAkt T308 than S473 (P < 0.001). Smoking and alcohol were found to be independent risk factors for Akt phosphorylation at T308 (P = 0.022 and 0.027, respectively). Patients with tumors positive for HPV or pAkt S473 had a poorer prognosis (P = 0.005, and 0.004, respectively). Patients who were heavy drinkers were 49 times more likely to die than non-drinkers (P = 0.003). Patients with low pAkt T308 were more likely to be HPV positive (P = 0.028). Non-drinkers were also found to have lower levels of pAkt T308 and were more likely to have tumors positive for HPV than heavy drinkers (P = 0.044 and 0.007, respectively).ConclusionThis study suggests different mechanisms of carcinogenesis are initiated by smoking, alcohol and HPV. Our data propose higher phosphorylation of Akt at T308 as a reliable biomarker for smoking and alcohol induced HNSCC progression and higher phosphorylation of Akt at S473 as a prognostic factor for HNSCC.

The Oncofetal Paradigm Revisited: MSF and HA as Contextual Drivers of Cancer Progression

Publisher Summary Cancer progression is also invariably accompanied by the reexpression of fetal isoforms of various structural and regulatory proteins not normally present in healthy adult tissues. Recent technological advances have fueled an explosion in our detailed understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms controlling this process. Different models involving both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms have been proposed to account for the observed “oncofetal” pattern of gene expression. Migration stimulating factor (MSF) is an oncofetal regulatory molecule constitutively expressed by epithelial and stromal cells during fetal development. This chapter reviews MSF in terms of its molecular characterization and spectrum of bioactivities, including the role of hyaluronan (HA) in mediating the motogenic response of certain target cells and the oncofetal pattern of its local and systemic expression. It also discusses the tissue level control of target cell response to MSF and the postulated epigenetic control of MSF expression within the context of an “extended” oncofetal model of cancer inception and progression. Finally, the chapter concludes with a brief discussion of the potential clinical implications of these concepts for improving the management of patients with cancer.

Evaluation of migration-stimulating factor expression for breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Objective of the project was to evaluate the impact of migration-stimulating factor expression for breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis.